Latino State Of The Union To Convene

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, February 16, 2011, MALDEF will host the 2011 Latino State of the Union: the 4th Annual Roundtable on Law, Policy and Civil Rights. As the national leading civil rights organization, MALDEF will feature discussions involving top national experts and leaders on a range of issues facing the Latino community in 2011.

This year, MALDEF’s Latino State of the Union will be co-branded with The Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, Inc. (HITN), a non-profit organization with a mission to advance the educational, cultural, and socio-economic aspirations of Hispanics in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. As a part of this partnership, HITN will rebroadcast the event on February 24, 2011.

MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz will open the event with a keynote address. Nina Perales, Director of Litigation, will deliver comments on redistricting and MALDEF’s ongoing efforts on this issue. Confirmed participants include Russell Roybal, Deputy Executive Director of External Relations, National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce; Brent Wilkes, National Executive Director, LULAC; Maria Teresa Kumar, Executive Director, Voto Latino; and Lisa Pino, Deputy Administrator of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The moderator for the 2011 Latino State of the Union will be Ray Suarez, host of Destination Casa Blanca on HITN TV and senior correspondent on PBS’ The NewsHour.  

Speakers include:

Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF

Nina Perales, Director of Litigation, MALDEF

Moderator:

Ray Suarez, Host, Destination Casa Blanca (HITN TV)

Panelists:

Russell Roybal, Deputy Executive Director of External Relations, National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce

Brent Wilkes, National Executive Director, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

Maria Teresa Kumar, Executive Director, Voto Latino

Lisa Pino, Deputy Administrator of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

MALDEF
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access.